The College of Winterhold

A guild of mages situated in the northeastern Skyrim province of Winterhold. It sits high above the shoreline of the Sea of Ghosts, and is the city's only remaining signifigant landmark following The Great Collapse of 4E 122 which saw most of Winterhold sink beneath the sea. Many of the remaining residents of Winterhold still blame the College for the natural disaster which claimed most of the ancient city to this day, and are distrustful of its mages and anyone who associates with them.

Applicants must demonstrate some degree of magical ability in order to be admitted into the College itself, by passing a short test with the gatekeeper Faralda. Once this test is passed, the applicant is welcomed into the College as an Apprentice where s/he is expected to help further the College's study of arcane knowledge.

Note that unlike the Mage's Guild which was prominent in Cyrodiil during Tamriel's Third Era, the College does not ban the study of Necromancy. Indeed, Conjuration instructor Gestor remarks that such a ban eventually died with the Mages' Guild itself.